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Topic: Thank You! (Read 3209 times)

Well - thanks to everyone here I've decided to take the next big step in our journey. We've begun attending Divine Liturgy at an Orthodox parish. We've begun speaking to the priest. And yesterday and today I've leaped over another major hurdle. I've started telling people (specifically Catholic friends) of our intentions.

Thus far the reaction hasn't been as bad as I'd feared. Though we'll see what the next few days bring.

Thank you all for sharing your opinions and experiences with me. It has been more helpful than you may ever realize.

Based on your 'netpertise, have you given any thought to blogging your experience or keeping a private journal, anything like that?

You know ... I hadn't really thought of blogging. I kept a private journal of my conversion to Catholicism. I was thinking this might make an interesting finish to that journal. Of course now that you mention the blogging idea ... I may have to think about that.

Congratulations Carole! Don't be afraid of how friends will take it. It is a cliche, but your real friends will understand and support you. Keep us up to date on your journey. Also, seriously consider the blog idea. I'd love to read your story.

As a result of a thousand million years of evolution, the universe is becoming conscious of itself, able to understand something of its past history and its possible future.-- Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS

This is indeed wonderful news! May the Lord God bless you and your family! Just reading your posts and comments takes me back to when I decided to start attending the Church. These are exciting times for you and your family and I agree with Fr. Chris that blogging or journaling will be good for you.

As for your friends, well, the people who truly love you will always be with you no matter what road you choose.

Logged

"The Scots-Irish; Brewed in Scotland, bottled in Ireland, uncorked in America." ~Scots-Irish saying

It is a cliche, but your real friends will understand and support you.

No, real friends may not understand, and they may not support it (they cannot as Catholics), but they will remain loving toward Carole (if only for that cute-as-a-button "e" at the end of her name ) Supporting and understanding should not be required or even expected.

No, real friends may not understand, and they may not support it (they cannot as Catholics), but they will remain loving toward Carole (if only for that cute-as-a-button "e" at the end of her name ) Supporting and understanding should not be required or even expected.

Lubeltri,

Thank you for the compliment on the "e" - though in the interest of full disclosure I will say that it has long been an annoyance to me. Now I have a new appreciation for it.

And you are right. I do not expect support in the "Yay for you! I'm so happy for you." meaning of support. And I don't expect people to understand. I mean I get it. They are Catholic (and for the most part serious, devoted Catholics and not the "Catholic in Name Only" types). As Catholics they hold certain beliefs about the Catholic Church that should make it difficult, if not impossible, to encourage me on this path.

However, I do expect that my friends (those people who care for me in a more personal and less generic manner) to respect me and support me in the "I don't think you're doing the right thing and I am very concerned for you. But I am not going to be rude, mean or dismissive of your thoughts and concerns."

To date I have received far more of the respectful support from friends. In fact the response has been better than when I told Protestant friends I was joining the Catholic Church when I actually had people shun me because I was "apostate" and "going to hell" for "leaving Christianity." And for that I am eternally grateful.

Just my usual reminder that the Holy Orthodox Catholic Church of the East never stopped being the "Catholic Church". Hence, a "Roman" Catholic cannot be considered to be leaving the Church

Of course, of course, and the Catholic Church (my Church) also considers itself Orthodox.

Both Churches make the same claim because both sides know that a Church that is not Catholic cannot be Orthodox and a Church that is not Orthodox cannot be Catholic. This is one of the most important things we have in common and one of the biggest reasons I have hope for an eventual reunion, if not in my lifetime.

For the sake of clarity, your Church is called Orthodox and ours is called Catholic. I'm glad we've got that settled (again).